Speed changing and controlling device.



A. SPEAR, DECD.

M. B. SPEAR, EXECUTRIX. SPEED CHANGING AND CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10.1914- Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTORV A ORA/EV A, SPEAR, DECD.

M. a. SPEAR, EXECUTRIX.

'SPEED CHANGING AND CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I0. 1914.

1,223,436. Patented Apr. 24,1917.

3 SHEETS.SHEET 2- 0 0 High RGI.

3rd. 211d. lsf Bra/fa I I INVENTOR w dw WWW I I i I I ATTORNEY A. SPEAR, DEC[). :4. B. SPEAK, EXECUT RIX SPEED CHANGING AND CONTROLLING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED NOV. I0, I914- Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

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734- I 1g 7 4 SAM/1 nvmvron l Z93 06M STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR SPEAE, DECEASED, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, BY MYRTLE B. SPEAK,

EXECUTBJX, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SPEED CHANGING AND CONTROLLING DEVICE.

i Specification letters Patent. Patented Apr. 24

' Application and November 10, 1914. serial No. 871,397.

To all it may concern: p

Be it known that ARTHUR'SPEAB, deceased,

: late a citizen of the United States and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, didinvent new'and useful Improvements in Speed Changing and Controlling Devices, of which the fol lowing is a specification. p The invention relates to devices and improvements for controlling the change speed.

gear or mechanism in which a transmiss on or like mechanism is-interposedbetween the engine and the driven 'part' to vary their relative speed or direction, as'inautomobiles or like machines.

In many of its aspects the nvention 1s an improvement or modification of that shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,121,413, dated Dec. 15,

1914, the application for which was copending herewith. The objects and advantages of the invention in part will be found in said application, and in part 'will be. set forth hereinafter .or will be obvious herefrom.

1 The invention consists in-the novel parts, mechanisms, combinations, arrangements, improvements and instrumentalities herein shown and described.

The acccompanying drawing, referred to herein and formin a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment 0% the invention, the same serving in c'onnectionwith the description herein to explain the principles of the invention. 1

Of the-drawings Figure 1 is a view, largely diagrammatic,

oflthe present invention, said figure corresponding largely to Fig. 11 of said prior application and I 0 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan, partly d1agrammatic corresponding generally to Fig. 7

" 3 and 4 are located side by s1de so that their moving device, such as the arm 10, may pass 1 of said application.

Fig. 3 is a top plan'of the controlling slides, partially withdrawn from their mounting, with associated parts; 9 Fig. 4 is an elevation looking at Fig. 3 from the bottom;

Fig. 5 is an elevation looking at Fig. 3 from the right side;

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary plan of the gear shiftmg rods, showing the relation thereto of the actuating arm;

ferred to.

patentfis adapted to move into and numbered 10 andshowninFigs. 1, 3, 6 and 11 of Patent No. 1,121,413 previously re- This arm 10, as explained in out ofoperative or actuating positions with reference' to any one of. ,a plurality of -gear "shifting members, and to move them into or out of operative relation to determine the speed or ratio of rotation of the engine relative to the driven wheels and also to determine the direction of the rotation.; The arm 10 for the purposes of this application is mounted in the same manner the arm 10 in and has the same movement as said patent.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

illustratin by way of example one embodiment, of t e invention, the same is shown applied to a well known type of speed changing device in which the gears .are shifted into and out of engagement to effect the requisite and desired changes in. speed. The particular mechanism of the, transmission is not illustrated in detail, but is shown inclosed in a casing 1. The gears are shifted in efiecting the speed changes by means of movable members shown herein as sliding rods 2, 3 and 4. Theserods are connected to'the slidable or shiftable gears with- I in the casing 1 to slideor-shift them to and I fro as may be necessary to efl 'ect' the speed changes. I

The movable slidable members or rods 2,

from one to the other. and are each provided .with means adapted to be. engaged by such' selecting and moving means adapted to move or slide any selected one of said memfromv oneto the other ofthem so as to select the proper or desired rod and to then move it in the desired direction,

The embodied form of engaging device on the slidable rods comprises two .parallel'lugs or lips 5 and .6 between which the actuating device therefor slides from one of the rods 2, 3 and 4 to another, and against which said device presses in sliding the rods, in one direction or the other. These engaging devices 5 and 6 are in alinement with each other, as shown in Fig. 6, when the moving means therefor is in what for convenience of language may be termed the initial or neutral position.

There is provided by my invention means operating automatically under the control of suitable settable devices for moving or slid ing the rods 2, 3 and 4 to effect the desired .changes in speed, and which automatically pass into and out of engagement with the various rods. as desired, but it will be understood that so far asconcerns many aspects of the invention, said automatic actuating means is adapted to operate with gear actuating connections other than slidable rods.

The moving device which cooperates directly with the slidable rods 2, 3 and" 4 in the present embodiment comprises an arm 10 mounted to slide and also to rock on a shaft 11 carried on .a suitable support such as brackets 12 and 13, the end of said arm 10 engaging slidable rods 2, 3 and 4 between the lugs 5 and 6. As embodied the rocking movementcarries the arm from one slide to another and the sliding movement of arm 10 on its support 11 effects the sliding movement of rods 2, 3 and 4.

The automatic devices which in the embodied form effect the selecting action, that is, move the arm 10 into engagement with one of the slidable rods or the other thereof 7 .and which then move the arm and selected rod to effect the gear change are located just above or adjacent to said slidable rods as best appears from Fig. 2, and comprises a plurality of guiding and actuating members moving relatively to each other and adapted to move the'arm 10 and .thereby the slidable rods 2, 3 and 4. There is also provided a suitable handle 14 fixed toarm 10, if desired, by which the speed changes may be manually effected. As embodied, said automatic devices comprise guiding and actuating means. The guiding means as embodied comprises a fixed guide plate 15 (see especially Figs. 1 and 3) provided with guiding I speed change or gear shift desired.

means in the form of an opening 16 through which the arm 10 passes, the opening 16 being so shaped that the arm 10 will always move in the right direction to effect the. (T relation of the parts is shown in Fig. 2). In such embodied form it is suited for a machine having four speed changes, together with the reverse and the initial position.

The arm 10 travels in the opening or slot 16.

means are the actuating means, comprising a plurality of actuators, which in accordance with certain features of the invention are successively actuable. That is, one actuator operates in conjunction with the guiding means and then another to give the requisite throw out of one gear connection and the throwing in of another. In certain aspects of the invention also they are electrically operated. In the embodied form said means comprises a plurality of slides each having an opening therein through which the arm 10 also passes as well as through the guide plate. The' openings in said guide slides are .formed so that in cooperation with the guide plate and being operated or actugears from one speed to another is effected through the movement of arm 10.

The staff 10 in the portion 17 of slot 16 travels to and fro in what, for convenience of language, may be termed the transverse direction whereby it passes into or out of engagement with any one of the rods 2, 3 or 4, as desired, during which movement it rocks upon the shaft 11. It also travels in what for convenience of language may be termed the longitudinal direction into and out of slots 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22, during which movement it slides on shaft 11. It will thus be seen that in passing from one position of the slidable rods and of the gears to another position thereof, the arm 10 must return to or pass through the slot 17, which corresponds to the initial position and to the neutralor initial position for the gear shift. It will be also understood that the movable members or, slidable rods move-to andfrom the initial position at which the arm 10 passes into or out of operation with a particular movable member or slidable rod, as desired. 1

In the embodied form ofmeans are provided also actuating and guiding members cooperating with the foregoing instrumentalities, and with the embodied form thereof for effecting the desired movements of the arm. 10, these guiding and actuating members being actuated and controlled from settable means, which are set by the operator for the desired position of the speed changing devices-orofthe gears. In accordance with certain features of the invention these guiding and moving members are actuated by magnetic means as provided by certain features of the invention. In the embodied form said meanscomprises a plurality of slidable plates already briefly referred to,

said plates work in close proximity to the fixed guide plate 15. In the embodied form guide ways formed in the support for fixed plate 15 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5). These guiding and moving slides, as well as the guide plate 15 in the present embodiment are designed to give four speeds forward and the reverse in addition to the initial or disengaged position, and the particular conformation and construction thereof will be described in connection with the speed changing capacity or capability just mentioned. The slidable plate 26 is shown with a transverse slot 30 therein,'which permits of relative movement of the arm 10 with respectto the slide 26 transversely, but the slide 26 and the arm 10 traveling together longitudinally, usingthose terms 1n the same sense of direction in which the plate '26 slides.

By consideration 0 the foregoing description and the drawings herewith, and referring especially to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, it will be understood that the slide 26 with its transverse slot 30 is adapted to move the arm 10 into and out of eachof the slots 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 and to restore it to the initial position, that is, in the slot 17.

The sliding plate 25 has an opening 131 therein rectangular at the end 132 thereof, and diamond shaped at the end 133. The slidin plate 27 is provided with a diamond shaped opening 134 (see especially Fig. 7).

As embodied, the guide plate 15 is mounted above the actuator slides 25, 26 and 27, .and all these are carried on a suitable supporting frame 151'just over the sliding rods 2, 3 and 4. The guide 15 is fixed upon said frame 151 and the actuators 25, 26 and 27 slide in grooves therein. These are 'arranged 'ust under or in line with the mounting 11 or arm 10- (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8), so that the arm 10 can pass through the guide plate and actuators and engage with the sl idable rods 2, 3 and 4 and pass from one to the other and move any desired rod to and'fro.

As a matter of convenience of illustration in Figs. 3 and 4 the slides are shown almost totally withdrawn from their mountin s, but

it willbe understoodthat in the em odied' device when assembled thearm 10 passes through veach of these openings, as appears from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, electrically or electromagneticall .operated actuating means for the gear-shifting devices are provided, and in accordance with one feature of the invention saiddevices are automatically operated by selectively settable circuit opening and closing devices, the electrical operatin means operating to make the desired shi t in the gears, and also preliminarily thereto throwing out the engine clutch and throwing it in again after the shifting has been accomplished. It will be understood that, in certain aspects of the invention, the initial throwing out of the engine clutch and the subsequent or sequential throwing in thereof is automatic and all that is required of the driver is to press a button or other circuit controlling device corresponding to the speed desired irrespective of whichever speedmay have been previously or precedingly used.

In the embodied form, solenoids are employed for sliding the plates 25, 26 and 27 the current for the solenoids being obtained from .a primary generator driven by the engine, (such as is widely used on motor cars at the present time), or from a secondary battery, with the utilization where desired or required of suitable current flow and current tension changing and controlling devices.

The slide 25 in the present. case is .connected by a rod 30 (from this point forward in the description there is no necessary cor-1 respondence between the reference numerals in this application and the copending application upon which Pat. No. 1,121,413 was issued) to a solenoid 31 adapted to move the slide 25 in one direction.

The slide 26 has connected thereto a rod 34 connected to the core of the solenoid 35, and at its opposite end, said slide 26 has a rod 36 attached thereto connected'to the core of a solenoid 37 The slide 27 at the left hand end has attached thereto a rod38, connected to the core of a solenoid 39, and at its opposite end said slide has attached thereto a rod 40. connected to the core of a solenoid 41.

The centering of the core of one solenoid preferably decenters the core of the other solenoid connected to the same slide, which latter solenoid is dead at the time, and the entire mechanical energy produced is available to perform the desired work less inevitable friction.

In the embodied form of means for throwing out the clutch, a solenoid 45 is provided,

clutch actuating device 49 with which 00- operates a spring50. The engine is indicated by 51 and the fly wheel by 52.

A suitable brake actuating device is provided, in which a solenoid 55 has its core connected to a rock arm 57 uponthe actuating shaft 58 of a band brake 59 operating on the hub of a Wheel 60.

Referring to Fig. 1 the plate 15 has marked thereon the Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the letter H to indicate the successive one, second, third and highest forward speeds, and the letter R to indicate the reverse speed or direction, similarly to the copending application referred to.

As explained in said patent, the slotted plate 26, which is the same as the correspondingly numbered plate in that application, will move thearm lO'into and out of each of the longitudinal slots marked R, 1, 2,3, and H, and the other two slides cooperating therewith will give the requisite transverse movements through the central transverse slot.

In connection with the circuits, and by way of further explanation, if it were desired to move from high to first speed, the

switch or button marked First will close a circuit at 62 to throw out the engine clutch,

and then will close circuits at 63 and 64 to move slide 27 to the right and slide 26 downwardly in Fig. 1. As the key; comes back it will open the circuit at 62 and the engine clutch will'be thrown in again. So far as concerns various features of the invention, as already indicated, .the clutch throw out may be operated in some other manner. The other switches or keys and the other slides will operate in a similar manner as will be clearly understood from the foregoing.

At is indicated an electrical generator driven by the engine of the automobile, as is usual in connection with the lighting and starting systems used on motor cars. A secondary source of power may be used and any voltage and amperage changing devices as found necessary or advisable in any particular case.

The invention in its broader aspects, is not limited to the particular construction shown, nor to any particular constructions by which it has been or may be carried into effect, as many changes may be'made in the construction, within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed as the invention and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A speed changin and controlling device including in com ination a plurality of selectively coiiperating movable devices for effecting the various gear shifts, separate electrical operating means including a 'plurality of circuits for moving the various 00- operating devices, and circuit controlling means for selectively controlling one or more of said'circuits to effect a desired gear shift.

2. A speed changing and controlling device including in combination a plurality of selectively cooperating movable devices for effecting the various gear shifts, separate electro-magnetic means including a plurality of circuits for moving the' various coiiperating devices, and circuit controlling means for selectively controlling one or more of said circuits to effect a desired gear shift.

3. A speed changing and controlling device including in combination a plurality of selectively cooperating slidable members for effecting the various gear shifts, solenoids for operating the various slidable members, circuits for said solenoids, and circuit controlling means opening and closing one or more of said circuits for effecting a desired -gear shift. I

4. A speed changing and controlling device including in combination a plurality of selectively coiiperating successively movable devices for effecting the various gear shifts, separate electrical operating means including a plurality of circuits for moving the various cotiperating devices, and circuit controlling means for selectively controlling one or more of said circuits to sequentially ef fect a desired gear shift.

5. A speed changing and controlling de vice including incombination a plurality of selectively cooperating slidable members for effecting the various gear shifts, solenoids for operating. the various slidable members, circuits for said solenoids, and circuitcontrolling means opening and closing successively a plurality of circuits to sequentially operate a plurality of solenoids to effect a desired gear shift.

6. A speed changing and controlling device including in combination an electrically operated engine clutch control and a circuit therefor, an electrically operated gear shifting device and a circuit therefor, and a single circuit opening and closing switch sequentially controlling said two circuits upon a single actuation. e

7. A speed changing and controlling device including in combination an electrically operated engine clutch control and a circuit therefor, an electrically operated gear shifting device comprising a, plurality of successively coiiperating electrically operated members and circuits therefor, and circuit controlling devices corresponding to the various gear shifts, said circuit controlling devices successively affecting the clutch circuit and then one or more of the other circuits as may be required for the particular shift desired. Intestimony whereof, I have" signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MYRTLE B. SPEAR, Ewecutrim of Arthur Spear, deceased. Witnesses:

JOHN D. MORGAN, LOUISA Lorna. 

